Dispenser carton



Oct. 23, 1962 R. HARMS 3,059,826

DISPENSER CARTON Filed Aug. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.l.

INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HARMS BY ATTORNEYS Oct. 23, 1962 R. HARMS DISPENSER CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1960 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HARMS AT T ORNEYS Oct. 23, 1962 R. HARMS 3,059,826

DISPENSER CARTON Filed Aug. 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4.

INVENTOR. ROBERT L. HARMS BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,059,825 Patented Oct. 23, 1962 3,059,326 DISPENSER CARTON Robert L. Harms, Skokie, TEL, assignor to Diamond National Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 49,578 2 Claims. (Cl. 229--17) This invention relates to containers. More particularly, this invention relates to a container having a pouring spout. This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 719,335, filed March 5, 1958 and now abandoned.

An object of this invention is to provide a container formed of paperboard, or the like, having an integral spout which can be opened and reclosed after use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container of this type for use with granular or powdered material, such as soap powder, dried milk, sugar, salt, and the like, which, when closed after use, forms a tight closure which prevents sifting or loss of contents of the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carton of this type in which the spout includes a flap on a portion thereof which is releasably received between other flap members and which can bridge the opening of the spout when the carton is closed and forms a part of the spout when the carton is open and another flap which over-lies and covers the opening to close it.

A further object of this invention is to provide a siftproof corner construction for such a carton at corners remote from the pouring spout.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description, and the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in rear elevation of a carton constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the carton being shown with the spout thereof open;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the carton is formed, score lines being indicated in dashed lines, glue areas being stippled.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper portion of the carton in partly formed condition.

FIG. 3A is a perspective partly broken away and in section of the upper portion of the carton in a further state of forming;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the carton in partly formed condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the carton in partly formed condition;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the spout portion of the upper end of the carton in completed, closed position;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the carton with the spout in a first partially open position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the carton with the spout in a second partially open position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of the carton and the spout in fully open position;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the spout end of the carton in re-closed position;

FIG. 11 is a view in section taken on the line 1111 in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the carton in closed position prior to opening thereof, score lines being shown in dashed lines.

In the following detailed description, and the drawings, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1 is shown a carton 10 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. The carton includes a re-closeable, integral spout 11 which may be opened to dispense contents of the carton.

The carton is formed from a blank 12 shown in FIG. 2. The blank 12 may be formed of paperboard or the like. The blank includes a back panel 13, a side panel 14, a front panel 16, and a side panel 17, which form the front, back, and side walls of the carton. These panels are separated by score lines 18, 19 and 21 which hinge these panels together. A glue flap 22 is hinged along a score line 23 at one edge of the side panel 17.

At the ends of side panel 17, triangular inner panels or flaps 24 and 26 are hinged along score lines 27 and 28, respectively. At the ends of side panel 14, similar triangular inner panels 29 and 31 are hinged along score lines 32 and 33, respectively. At the ends of back panel 13, intermediate end panels 34 and 36 are hinged along score lines 37 and 38, respectively. Edge tuck flaps 34a and 36a are hinged to the end panels 34 and 36, respectively along score lines 370 and 38a.

The inner panel 24 is linked to the lower outer end panel 39 by a flap 44. The flap 44 is hinged to the inner panel 24 along a score line 46 and hinged to the panel 39 along a score line 47. Another flap 48 is hinged to the inner panel 24 along a score line 49. A glue receiving projection or tab 51 is separated from the flap 48 by a score line 52 which extends from the score line 23 part of the distance to the intersection of score lines 46 and 49. An extension 23a of the score line 23 separates an extension 22a of the glue flap 22 from the flap 48.

The inner panel 29 is linked to the lower outer end panel 39 by a flap 54. The flap 54 is hinged to the panel 39 along a score line 56 and hinged to the inner panel 29 along a score line 57. The inner panel 29 is linked to the intermediate end panel 34 by a flap 58. One edge of the flap 58 is hinged to the panel 29 along a score line 59. A second edge of the flap 58 is hinged to the intermediate end panel 34 along a score line 61. An outwardly extending glue tab 62 is separated from the flap 58 by a score line 62a which extends from the score line 61 part of the distance to the intersection of score lines 57 and 59.

The inner panel 26 is linked to the upper outer end panel 41 by a flap 63. One edge of the flap 63 is hinged to the panel 41 along a score line 64. Another edge of the flap 63 is hinged to the inner panel 26 along a score line 66. Another flap 67 is hinged to the inner panel 26 along a score line 68. An outwardly extending glue tab 69 is separated from the flap 67 by a score line 71 which extends from the score line 23 part of the distance to the intersection of score lines 66 and 68. An extension 23b of the score line 23 separates an extension 22b of the glue flap 22 from the flap 67. The extensions 22a and 2212 are separated from the glue flap 22 by score lines 2711 and 28a, respectively.

The inner panel 31 is linked to the upper outer end panel 41 by a spout-forming flap 73 and a tear panel which includes sections 74 and 75. As shown, the tear panel sections extend into the body of the upper outer end panel 41. The flap 73 is hinged to the inner panel 31 along a score line 76 and to tear panel section along a score line 77. The tear panel sections 74 and 75 are separated from the body of the outer upper end panel 41 by score lines 78 and 79, which meet at an 87 angle. This angle is intersected by a line of perforations 81 which separate the sections of the tear panel.

The inner panel 31 is linked to the intermediate end panel 36 by a closure flap 82 and a spout-forming flap 83. One edge of the flap 82 is hinged to the inner panel 31 along a hinge line 84. One edge of the flap 83 is hinged to the intermediate end panel 36 along a score line 86. Adjacent edges of flaps 82 and 83 are hinged together along a score line 87. An outwardly projecting glue-receiving tab 90 is separated from the flap 82 by a score line 92 which extends from the score line 87 part of the distance to the intersection of score lines 76 and 84. An edge 91 of flap 83 is arcuate and extends outwardly of the score lines 92 and 38a forming an outwardly extending flap portion or ear 95.

In the forming of a carton, the blank is first cut and scored as shown in FIG. 2. Then glue is placed on the glue flaps 22, 22a, and 2212, as indicated by stippling in FIG. 2, and the container blank is folded along the hinge lines 18, 19, 21, and 23 to the condition indicated in FIG. 3. The glue flap 22 is attached to the inner face of the back panel 13 adjacent the free edge thereof (not shown in FIG. 3), and the glue flaps 22a and 22b are attached to the interior faces of intermediate end panels 34 and 36, respectively. In this condition, the carton can be shipped flat.

When the carton is to be used, the carton is set up as indicated in FIG. 3 and the upper and lower ends are closed. The carton may be closed at the bottom at first and filled at the top, or the top end can be closed and the carton can be filled from the bottom. After filling, the remaining end of the carton is closed. In FIG. 2, the areas which receive glue on intermediate end panels 34 and 36 and on flaps 83, 90, 69, 51, and 62 are indicated by stippling. The flap portion or ear 95 adjacent the arcuate edge 19 is left free of glue as indicated. The unstippled areas may be coated with varnish or the like which protects the surface and resists adherence of glue.

The closing of the upper end can best be understood by reference to FIGS. 3 and 3A. With the upper end of the carton in the FIG. 3 position, the inner panels 31 and 26 are folded inwardly to draw the intermediate end panel 36 and the upper outer end panel 41 to the position shown in FIG. 3A. A strip of glue is placed on the panel 36 and flap 83, as indicated by stippling in FIG. 3A. When the upper end of the carton is further closed, the panel 36 advances inside of and into face-to-face relation with the panel 4-1, and the glue tab 90 of flap 82 is received inside the pocket formed between the flap 73 and the tear panel section 75. As the glue tab 90 advances into position, it scrapes across an edge 93 of the flap 73 which scrapes excess glue from the glue tab 90. The excess glue is caught in the score line 92 (see FIG. 2). The glue flap 69 and the portion of the intermediate panel 36 and flap 36a adjacent thereto are received in a pocket between the flap 63 and the panel 41. The glue on the panel 36 and flap 83 attaches the inner face of the panel 41 to intermediate panel 36 and attaches the tear panel section 74 to the end flap 83. The flap 67 and the portion of the intermediate panel 36 adjacent thereto are held tightly together in face-toface relation in the pocket between the flap 63 and the panel 41 to render the carton tightly sealed so that the contents of the carton are retained and sifting out of the contents of the carton is prevented.

The bottom of the carton can be closed as indicated in FIG. 313, by pushing inner panels 24 and 29 (not shown in FIG. 3B) inwardly to fold the bottom portion of the carton together. The panel 34 is folded inwardly and flatwise against the inner face of the bottom outer end panel 39. Glue (indicated by stippling) on the panel 34 attaches the panels 34 and 39 together to render the bottom end of the carton tight and sift-proof. The side edges of the bottom of the carton are each constructed in the same manner as the side edge of the upper end of the panel 39 remote from the spout with the intermediate end panel 34 face-toface with the panel 39 and i flaps 48 and 62 (not shown in FIG. 5) face-to-face with panel 34.

When the carton is to be used, the perforations of the tear strip 81 (FIG. 6) are torn or opened and the flaps 82 and 73 are bent upwardly as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to withdraw the tab from the position between the flap 73 and the tear panel section 75. The glue on the tab 90 breaks loose as it is withdrawn. The inner panel 31 is pulled outwardly, as indicated in FIG. 9 to complete the formation of the pouring spout 11. When use of the carton is completed, the inner panel 31 is folded inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 8, and the tab portion 90 of the flap 82 is inserted again into position between the flap 73 and the tear panel section 75. Then the spoutforming portion of the carton is folded to the position shown in FIG. 10, at which the carton is reclosed. When the carton is reclosed, the portion of the flap 83 adjacent the arcuate edge 91 overlies the spout opening as shown most clearly in FIGS. 10 and 11. The tab 90 and the flap 83 cooperate to bridge the gap at the tear line 81 to prevent passage of the contents of the carton when the carton is reclosed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portion 95 of the flap 83 adjacent the arcuate edge 91 is not coated with glue. When the carton is closed and prior to opening of the carton, this portion 95 of the flap 8 3 underlies the perforations, as shown most clearly in FIG. 6, and prevents sifting of fine materials through the perforations. The portion 95 of the flap 83 can be varnished so that, if any glue accumulates thereon, the glue does not take hold or impede opening of the pouring spout. As indicated above, when the spout is reclosed, as shown in FIG. 11, the portion 95 of the spout 83 overlies and covers the spout opening.

As the carton is closed, the glue on the tab 90 is accumulated in the score line 92 as already pointed out, and the glue accumulation forms a seal at the free edge of the flap 73.

When the carton is closed, as shown in FIG. 6, the edge of the flap 82 adjacent the score line 92 presses against the ear portion 95 to contribute to rendering the carton sift-proof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the angle between the score lines 76 and 84 is less than 90 degrees and can be approximately 87 degrees so that, when the carton is formed the score lines force the flaps 54 and 58 toward the tear panel section to promote a tight seal and cause the paperboard at the intersection of score lines 76 and 84 to ball up eliminating any tiny opening at this point. Varnish can be applied to the entire panel '31 and panels 73 and 82, except that the varnish is cut back from the score line 92 and the tip of panel '31 (where glue is indicated by stippling), so that the glue applied to the tab 90 is spread over this portion of the panel 31 and aids in forming a sift-proof closure.

As shown in FIG. 2, a burr 97 of rough board fiber is left at the corner adjacent the spout edge between tear panel 75 and flap 73, to give a tight fit at this point of possible sifting. Glue is forced onto the fibers of the burr 17 when it is closed. Similar burrs 98, 99, and 100 are formed on other similar closure points.

The tuck flaps 34a and 36a can be varnished so that they slide easily during closing, and any glue that is spilled onto the tuck flaps does not take hold.

The score line 381: extends lengthwise of the blank as shown in FIG. 2, and is substantially aligned with the score line 71. When the carton is formed to the intermediate condition shown in FIG. 3, the score line 36 is substantially at the upper end of the glue flap section 22b and in alignment with the score line 71. When the carton is closed, the score lines 36 and 71 permit the paperboard of the carton to follow the end of the glue flap portion 22b to give a tight seal thereat.

The perforations of the spout opening, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, are ofiset from the edge of the flap 73 (see FIG. 2) and do not overlie the free edge 93 of the flap 73, so that when the carton is closed, and the portion of the greatest pressure is not at the tip of the perforations, but is spaced therefrom. The free edge 93 is not parallel to the lengthwise axis of the carton blank (see FIG. 2) but slopes at an angle of approximately 4 degrees thereto so that, as shown in FIG. 12, when the carton is closed, the free edge 93 is otfset from the line of perforations 81. This nit-setting makes for ready re-insertion of the tab 90 on re-closing of the carton.

The carton construction illustrated in the drawin gs and described above is subject to structural modification Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In particular, the bottom end construction of the carton can be altered in various ways.

Having described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton which comprises spaced front and rear panels, a side panel linking the front and rear panels, an inner panel hinged to an edge of the side panel, an intermediate end panel hinged t0 the back panel, an upper outer end panel hinged to the front panel, means for attaching the upper outer end panel to the intermediate end panel to hold said panels in registry, there being a pair of tear panel sections extending into the upper outer end panel in registry with the inner panel, a tear line dividing the tear panel sections, a spout-forming flap linking the inner panel with one of the tear panel sections, a second spout-forming flap hinged to the intermediate end flap, means for attaching the other tear panel section to said second spout-forming flap in registry therewith, and a closure flap linking the second spoutforrning flap with the inner panel, said closure-forming flap including a tab releasably received between the firstmentioned spout-forming flap and said first-mentioned tear panel section when the carton is closed, the tear panel sections, the spout-forrning flaps, the closure flap, and the inner panel being adapted to form a spout when the tear line is open between the tear panel sections, and an car on the second spout-forming flap adapted to overlie and close the spout opening when the carton is reclosed, the tab of the closure forming flap being replaceable between the first-mentioned spout-forming flap and the firstanentioned tear panel section when the carton is re-closed.

2. A paperboard carton which comprises spaced front and rear panels, a side panel linking the front and rear panels, a triangular inner panel hinged to an edge of the side panel, an intermediate end panel hinged to the back panel, an upper outer end panel hinged to the front panel, means for attaching the upper outer end panel to the intermediate end panel to hold said panels in registry, there being a pair of tear panel sections extending into the upper outer end panel in registry with the inner panel, a tear line dividing the tear panel sections, a spout-forming flap linking the inner panel with one of the tear panel sections, a second spout-forrning flap hinged to the intermediate end flap, means for attaching the other tear panel section to said second spoutforrning flap in registry therewith, and a closure flap linking the second spout-forming flap With the inner panel, said closure-forming flap including a tab releasably received between the first-mentioned spout-forming flap and said first-mentioned tear panel section when the carton is closed, the tear panel sections, the spout-forming flaps, the closure flap, and the inner panel being adapted to form a spout when the tear line is open between the tear panel sections, and an ear on the second spoutforrning flap adapted to overlie and close the spout opening when the carton is reclosed, the tab of the closureforrning flap being replaceable between the first-mentioned spout-forming flap and the first-mentioned tear panel section when the carton is reclosed, the inner panel having a corner opposite the side panel of an angle of approximately 87 degrees adjacent the tear line, whereby the paperboard balls up at said corner.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,132,925 Bensel Oct. 11, 1938 2,300,703 Ray NOV. 3, 1942 2,789,747 Graybill Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 562,966 Great Britain July 24, 1944 

